rev. AES-2id-2009 551 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, 10176, US
(revision of AES-2id-2006) AES information document for digital audio engineering Guidelines for the use of the AES3 interface Published by Audio Engineering Society, Inc. Copyright 2006, 2012, 2017 by the Audio Engineering Society Abstract This document provides guidelines for the use of AES3, AES recommended practice for digital audio engineering Serial transmission format for two-channel linearly represented digital audio data, together with AES5, AES recommended practice for professional digital audio applications employing pulse-code modulation Preferred sampling frequencies, and AES11, AES recommended practice for digital audio Engineering Synchronization of digital audio equipment in studio operations. An AES standard implies a consensus of those directly and materially affected by its scope and provisions and is intended as a guide to aid the manufacturer, the consumer, and the general public. An AES information document is a form of standard containing a summary of scientific and technical information; originated by a technically competent writing group; important to the preparation and justification of an AES standard or to the understanding and application of such information to a specific technical subject. An AES information document implies the same consensus as an AES standard. However, dissenting comments may be published with the document. The existence of an AES standard or AES information document does not in any respect preclude anyone, whether or not he or she has approved the document, from manufacturing, marketing, purchasing, or using products, processes, or procedures not conforming to the standard. This document is subject to periodic review and users are cautioned to obtain the latest edition.
- 2 - Table of contents 1 Scope...5 2 References...6 3 Glossary and definitions...9 3.1 Glossary of abbreviations...9 3.2 Definitions...9 4. Audio essence...11 4.1 General...11 4.2 Levels...11 4.3 Overload and clipping...12 4.4 Word length and re-dithering...12 4.5 DC offset...13 4.6 Non-linear PCM audio, and non-audio data...13 4.7 Validity (V) bit...14 5. Subcode and metadata...15 5.1 General...15 5.2 Channel status...17 5.3 User-channel (U) bits...23 5.4 Ancillary data...23 6. Transport...24 6.1 Framing...24 6.2 Preambles...24 6.3 Blocks...24 6.4 Biphase-mark...24 6.5 Parity...25 7. Electrical and physical...25 7.1 Balanced transmission...25 7.2 Coaxial transmission...31 7.3 Optical transmission...32 7.4 Jitter...32 8 Operational and installation concerns...43 8.1 Re-clocking...43 8.2 Synchronisation...43 8.3 Blank or unused channels...44 8.4 Handling errors...44 9 Interfacing with other transports...44 9.0 General...44 9.1 General guidelines...44 9.2 Incorporating AES3 into another transport...45 9.3 Restoring an AES3 stream from another transport...46 Annex A - Implementation charts for use in equipment handbooks...48 Annex B - CRCC generating programs...50 B.1 General...50 B.2 BASIC program to check out CRCC generation...50 B.3 C program to check out CRCC generation...51 Annex C - Coaxial cable adapters and equalizer characterization...52 C.1. Passive adapters...52 C.2 Cable equalizers...57
- 3 - C.3. Examples of circuit implementation...61 C.4 Active line receivers with equalizer...63 Annex D - Examples of waveforms on cables...65 Annex E - DC removal...67 E.1 Application...67 E.2 Introduction...67 E.3 The technique...67
- 4 - Foreword to 1996 edition In 1990, the SC-02 Subcommittee on Digital Audio of the Audio Engineering Society Standards Committee (AESSC) set up a working sub-group, SC-02-02-01, under the chairmanship of S. Lyman, to prepare a guideline document, AES-2id, for use with the AES3 digital interface. To expedite discussion of these guidelines, the AESSC made public draft clauses of the document by means of publication in the AESSC News column of the Journal of the Audio Engineering Society. Unlike this document, those clauses had been for discussion only, having only the status of committee drafts, subject to extensive change. They did not have the status of consensus approval and are not AES standards or information documents. Those clauses have been revised and are included in this document together with additional clauses. The information in 7.4 was drawn mainly from the paper (preprint 3705) Towards Common Specifications for Digital Audio Interface Jitter, by J. Dunn, B. A. McKibben, R. Taylor, and C. Travis, presented at the 95th Convention of the Audio Engineering Society, 1993-10 Robert A. Finger, Chair, SC-02-02 Working Group on Digital Input/Output Interfacing 1995-10 Foreword to 2006 edition [This foreword is not a part of AES information document for digital audio engineering Guidelines for the use of the AES3 interface, AES-2id-2006.] This document was written by C. R. Caine with contributions from J. Brown, R. Bristow-Johnson, H. Nakashima, and others. The work of the late Julian Dunn on jitter in section 7.4 is particularly acknowledged and is reproduced verbatim. The document integrates all that information relating to standards AES3, AES5, AES11 and information document AES-3id that is important to implementation of AES3 but which is itself not part of the standard in any normative sense. Many changes have occurred to AES3 since this document was partially revised in 1996. The next revision of AES3 may involve a complete restructuring to split physical, transport and essence into separate parts which may be more conveniently revised thereafter. This text has therefore been set out so that references to the current AES3 can easily be revised when AES3 is revised. It is expected that AES-3id will be incorporated in AES3 at that time. J. Grant, Chair, SC-02-02 Working Group on Digital audio input/output interfacing. Foreword to 2012 edition This revision was made to harmonize with the multi-part revision of AES3 published in 2009. It contains updated references plus previous corrigenda and addenda. Operational modes no longer supported in AES3, such as "Minimum" implementation of channel status have been identified. References to new operational features, such as those specified in AES41, AES52, AES55, and AES62, have been added. J. Grant, Chair, SC-02-02 Working Group on Digital audio input/output interfacing. Note on normative language In AES standards documents, sentences containing the word shall are requirements for compliance with the document. Sentences containing the verb should are strong suggestions (recommendations). Sentences giving permission use the verb may. Sentences expressing a possibility use the verb can.
- 5 - AES information document for digital audio engineering - Guidelines for the use of the AES3 interface 1 Scope The information presented in this guideline is not a part of the AES3 standard. It is intended to assist a user to understand and use the digital audio interface. The examples provided are not intended to be restrictive, but to clarify. The AESSC hopes these guidelines will further the design of mutually compatible interfaces and encourage consistent operational practices. This revision includes details on the implementation of the coaxial interface first described in AES-3id-2001 AES information document for Digital audio engineering -- Transmission of AES3 formatted data by unbalanced coaxial cable and now incorporated into AES3-4-2009. The document covers several topics, some relating to interpretation of AES3-2009 and some providing general guidance derived from experience with the interface. The clauses relating to interpretation of the standard are divided into Essence, that is the audio content which is the raison d être of the interface; Metadata, or the data relating to that audio content; Transport, being the organisation of these into a bitstream; and Physical, the mechanical and electrical properties which are the reality of making a connection which will work and where in practice most difficulties have occurred. Other clauses deal with typical problems, and issues of passing AES3 through other transports.